Once the wrinkled but familiar faces of yesteryear had taken their bow, it was time for the fresh face of the future to take centre-stage.

Wayne Rooney (pictured) did his bit. But even if he becomes the most prolific marksman in modern Everton history, he will still struggle to compete with the Goodison record of a striker two decades his senior.

When Les Ferdinand faces Everton, he scores. It's a grim fact of Evertonian life. Like no money, championship winning teams being broken up by world wars, European trophy winners being banned - and Spurs drawing at Goodison Park.

Saturday's 2-2 stalemate was their fourth in a row . . . since, well since Ferdinand scored a Gwladys Street winner in 1998.

But while an opening day draw is rarely cause for celebration, Saturday's curtainraiser at least provided some optimism for the future.

If mid-table mediocrity is to be the summit of Everton's ambition this season - and after recent campaigns that would represent a significant stride forward - their manager seems to have decided there will be nothing mediocre about the way they get there.

On Saturday, Everton carried on where they left off last season, scoring goals for fun and conceding them almost as comically at the other end.

After nine matches which featured a remarkable 40 goals under David Moyes last term, the Blues kicked off with another four-goal entertainer.

It was almost as if Everton officials had decreed that the club would kick off its historic hundredth season in the top flight in flashback fashion.

An adventurous 4-3-3 formation hadn't been seen at Goodison since men likeTrevor Ross, George Telfer and David Smallman had skipped across the Goodison turf, rather Saturday's prematch parade when they proudly dragged their slightly slower limbs out there once again.

It was an experiment which might have backfired, but it was a gamble worth taking - and the biggest beneficiary was Tomasz Radzinski.

The profligate Canadian had been tipped to be the man to make way for the prolific Rooney. But he kept his place - and produced a stunningly composed finish just when it mattered most.

Radzinski (right) has rightly been derided on these pages for his inability tofinish, so credit where it's due.

He used his abundant pace to turn a half-chance into a real one 10 minutes from time, then finished it with supreme ruthlessness. Let's pray it wasn't the exception which will prove a rule.

Evertonians will be hoping the same applies to goalkeeper Richard Wright.

His summer signing was supposed to be the end to the goalkeeping errors which cost the club so many Premiership points last season.

He flopped limply over Ferdinand's hopeful 73rd minute strike, however, to gift Spurs - temporarily - the prospect of an unlikely away win.

Previous incumbents of the Goodison goalkeeping jersey would allow an error to develop into a full blown crisis of confidence. Now Wright must show he is different.

Plenty of other things were different around Goodison on Saturday - including a press box full of excited Chinese journalists.

The object of their attention was midfield international Li Tie (right).

Originally acquired only as part of the club's sponsorship deal with Kejian, Moyes has been impressed by the player's attitude and pleasantly surprised by his quality.

At times the pace of the game caught him out, but for 76 minutes he was composed and controlled, and alongside Gravesen and Pembridge, made for a well balanced midfield unit.

For 45 minutes Gravesen produced his Danish World Cup form. Some of his tight, skilful approach play was among the best football he has produced in an Everton jersey.

He has impressed in flashes before, of course, but in David Moyes he has a firm admirer and the mutual appreciation society is paying off at present.

The Dane tiptoed superbly through Spurs' covering midfielders to chisel out a chance in the 12th minute which Gary Naysmith's left foot was better

placed to convert. Unfortunately Kevin Campbell's eagerness got his left foot to the ball first and Keller saved easily.

Another left-footer gave Everton the lead in the 36th minute, at the end of a move of flowing purpose.

Gravesen swept a pass down the right flank, Radzinski sprinted clear and crossed for Rooney and the youngster suppressed his natural instinct to shoot and swivelled sharply to tee up Pembridge. His finish was fierce, but far from the the only thing he did all afternoon.

Pembridge is the kind of honest, committed star who used to be the norm in English football. It's an attitude which is being replaced by the more technically accomplished but peripheral foreigner, and not necessarily for the best.

Until Radzinski's late intervention, all Saturday's goals had surprisingly come from domestic sources.

Matthew Etherington crased in a 62nd minute equaliser, as Everton's pressing game began to wilt in the heat. Ironically Everton had been trying to introduce an extra midfielder at the time, but the ball refused to go out of play.

When Niclas Alexandersson did come on, his first contribution was a cross-shot which flashed narrowly wide.

Les Ferdinand came on five minutes later for the surprised Teddy Sheringham. No-one was surprised, though, when he scored with his first touch.

Moyes went for broke, replacing a defensive midfielder, Tie, with an attacking one, Rodrigo - and a left foot shot which was blocked in the six-yard box almost repaid his boldness.

But when Kevin Campbell steered a pass into Radzinski's path 10 minutes from time, the Blues did grab the point their adventure deserved.

The significance of the 2002-03 season at Goodison may well be merely historic, but early signs are that it's going to be an entertaining one at least.